Ioane puts 'Turtle' on ice for rugby final - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Ioane puts 'Turtle' on ice for rugby final

Jim Morton 06/07/2011 05:46:37 PM Comments (0)

Queensland Reds' cult hero Digby Ioane loves to dance but he's promised to keep any try celebrations on ice in Saturday night's Super Rugby final.

The potential for bad karma has ensured there will be no repeat of his "Turtle" or any breakdancing if the Wallabies winger crosses the line against the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium.

However, there are plans for something special on fulltime.

"I will just do a full-set dance if we win," Ioane told AAP. "I just want to win.

"I'll save it up for after the match. I don't want to be dancing after a try and they come back. That could be karma."

Tackle-busting Ioane's popularity has gone through the roof since he produced the Turtle, in honour of halfback Will Genia, to cap an 80-metre five-pointer two months ago against the Bulls.

"It was just the moment at the time," he said. "The crowd atmosphere was amazing and I felt the energy so I had to do something special."

Breakdancers said the spinning move more resembled the Scorpion but Ioane gets requests to unleash the Turtle wherever he goes around the state.

The winger's efforts also inspired Quade Cooper to produce a running backflip the following match after a solo 50-metre try against the Waratahs.

But Ioane said there is no arrogance within the young Reds' squad, with players just enjoying the chance to express themselves in setting up and scoring tries.

He said several seasons in the Super Rugby cellar, entrenched in the bottom three from 2004-09 until Ewen McKenzie took over, had ensured feet had been kept on the ground.

"The thing about the Reds, everyone is treated the same and there's no rock stars and everyone is humble," the Wellington-born flyer said.

"You don't want to be arrogant.

"In the last four years, I've seen players go but, to be in this final, this means a lot to everyone.

"If we do come away with the win, then people will want to come and play for the Reds, just like the Crusaders.

"If you play for the Crusaders, you feel like a big dog because you are playing with all those rock stars like Dan Carter."

While he doesn't see them as rock stars, the Reds have definitely become You Tube stars with a host of tributes lighting up the internet.

Ioane is a big fan of the hip-hop and wrap clips but, as a devout Catholic, has one complaint.

"I like them but there's too much swearing," he laughed.

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